Potential reductions in ultra-processed food consumption substantially improve population cardiometabolic-related dietary nutrient profiles in eight countries
Eurídice Martínez Steele Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases September 3, 2022
Highlights
• Potential UPF drop in eight countries reduces inadequate nutrient intakes.
• Higher reductions would be observed for diets with multiple nutrient inadequacies.
• Lowering UPF is a way to improve CVD-related nutrient profile.
Background and aims
The negative effect on dietary nutrient profiles is the most obvious mechanism explaining the higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases associated with increased dietary share of UPF observed in large cohort studies.
We estimate the proportion of diets with excessive energy density, excessive free sugars or saturated fat contents and insufficient fiber that could be avoided, if UPF consumption was reduced to levels among lowest consumers across eight countries, as well as the proportion of diets with multiple inadequacies.
Methods and Results
Using nationally-representative cross-sectional surveys from Brazil (2008-09), Chile (2010), Colombia (2005), Mexico (2012), Australia (2011-12), the UK (2008-16), Canada (2015), and the US (2015-16), inadequate energy density (≥2.25kcal/g) or contents of free sugars (>10% of total energy intake), saturated fats (>10% of total energy intake) and fiber (<25 g/2000 kcal) population attributable fractions were quantified.
Substantial reductions in nutrient inadequacies would be observed ranging from 50.4% in Chile to 76.8% in US for dietary energy density, from 15.5% in Colombia to 68.4% in Australia for free sugars, from 9.5% in Canada to 35.0% in Mexico for saturated fats, and from 10.3% in UK to 37.9% in Mexico for fiber. Higher reductions would be observed for diets with multiple nutrient inadequacies: from 27.3% in UK to 77.7% in Australia for ≥ 3 and from 69.4% in Canada to 92.1% in US, for 4 inadequacies.
Conclusions
Lowering dietary contribution of UPF to levels among country-specific lowest consumers is a way to improve population cardiometabolic-related dietary nutrient profiles.